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Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel

2.5 star property
Adults-only hostel with a 24-hour front desk and a coffee shop

Choose dates to view prices

Photo gallery for Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel

Exterior
Billiards
Private 4 Bed Dorm | Free WiFi, bed sheets
Bar (on property)
Staircase
Kick Ass Greyfriars Hostel (adults only) sits in Edinburgh's historic Old Town, creating a vibrant base for exploration. Travelers can visit nearby St. Giles' Cathedral and the bustling Grassmarket, then return to relax in the garden or grab coffee at the on-site cafe.

Reviews

8.4 out of 10
Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Breakfast available
  • 24/7 front desk
  • Laundry
  • Free WiFi
  • Business services

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 12 of 12 rooms

View all photos for Double or Twin Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Double or Twin Room

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Private 4 Bed Dorm

Private 4 Bed Dorm | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Private 4 Bed Dorm

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for One Bed in a Dorm Room for 4 People

Free WiFi, bed sheets

One Bed in a Dorm Room for 4 People

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for One Bed in a Dorm Room for 4 People (Female Only)

Free WiFi, bed sheets

One Bed in a Dorm Room for 4 People (Female Only)

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 1
  • 2 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Private 6 Bed Dorm

Private 6 Bed Dorm | Free WiFi, bed sheets

Private 6 Bed Dorm

8.0 out of 10
Very good
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 6
  • 3 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for One Bed in a Dorm Room for 6 People

Free WiFi, bed sheets

One Bed in a Dorm Room for 6 People

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 1
  • 3 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for One Bed in a Dorm Room for 8 People

Free WiFi, bed sheets

One Bed in a Dorm Room for 8 People

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 1
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for One Bed in a Dorm Room For 10 People

One Bed in a Dorm Room For 10 People | Free WiFi, bed sheets

One Bed in a Dorm Room For 10 People

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 1
  • 5 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for One Bed in a Dorm Room for 30 People

One Bed in a Dorm Room for 30 People | Free WiFi, bed sheets

One Bed in a Dorm Room for 30 People

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 1
  • 15 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Standard Triple Room

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Standard Triple Room

9.0 out of 10
Wonderful
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 Twin Bunk Bed

View all photos for Private 8 Bed Dorm

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Private 8 Bed Dorm

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 8
  • 4 Twin Bunk Beds

View all photos for Basic Shared Dormitory

Free WiFi, bed sheets

Basic Shared Dormitory

7.0 out of 10
Good
(2 reviews)

Highlights

Heating
  • Sleeps 1
  • 6 Twin Bunk Beds

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About the neighborhood

Map
37-39 Cowgate, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 1JR

What's nearby

  • Grassmarket - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles
  • University of Edinburgh - 4 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Edinburgh Castle - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Royal Mile - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles
  • Princes Street - 7 min walk - 0.4 miles

Getting around

  • Edinburgh (ZXE-Edinburgh Waverly Train Station) - 9 min walk
  • Princes Street Tram Stop - 10 min walk
  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) - 26 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Knoops - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Frankenstein - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪The Bow Bar - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Finnegan's Wake - ‬2 min walk
  • ‪Mussel & Steak Bar - ‬1 min walk

About this property

Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel

Hostel near University of Edinburgh
A short walk from Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile, Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel provides a terrace, a coffee shop/cafe, and a garden. Free in-room WiFi is available to all guests, along with an arcade/game room and laundry facilities.
You'll also enjoy perks such as:
  • Local cuisine breakfast (surcharge), a billiards/pool table, and luggage storage
  • Tour/ticket assistance, a vending machine, and multilingual staff
  • Outdoor furniture, smoke-free premises, and a TV in the lobby
  • Guest reviews say great things about the helpful staff
Room features
All guestrooms at Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel offer amenities such as free WiFi.
Other conveniences in all rooms include:
  • Heating and limited housekeeping

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CoDE Pod – The CoURT - Edinburgh

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  • Breakfast available
  • Bar
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CoDE Pod – The CoURT - Edinburgh

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • No onsite parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily local cuisine breakfast available 9:00 AM to noon for a fee: GBP 5.50 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • Snack bar/deli

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Billiards/pool table
  • TV in common areas

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Laundry facilities
  • Lockers
  • Luggage storage
  • Vending machine

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (once per stay)
  • Multilingual staff
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • Business center

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Terrace

Accessibility

  • No elevator

More

  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Shower
  • Towels provided

More

  • Heating (climate-controlled)

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before 10 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
For any questions, please contact the property using the information on the booking confirmation
All guests must show a valid passport or ID. This is the only form of identification that is accepted at this property.

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children younger than 18 are not allowed at this adults-only property; all guests 18 and older are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: GBP 40 per person

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for local cuisine breakfast: approximately GBP 5.50 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Special cancellation policies or charges may apply for group reservations (more than 8 rooms for the same property / stay dates)
This property accepts credit cards and debit cards; cash is not accepted
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
This property's policy is to refuse certain bookings for the purpose of group events or parties, including pre-wedding stag/bachelor and hen/bachelorette parties
Guests under 18 years old are not permitted at this adults-only property
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Budget Backpackers Hostel Edinburgh
Budget Backpackers Edinburgh
Budget Backpackers
Kick Ass Greyfriars (18+ hostel)
Kick Ass Greyfriars Adults Only Hostel
Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel Edinburgh

Frequently asked questions

Is Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel?

This hostel doesn't offer parking.

What time is check-in at Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel?

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime.

What time is check-out at Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel?

Check-out is at 10 AM.

Where is Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel located?

Located in Old Town Edinburgh, this hostel is within a 5-minute walk of Grassmarket and University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle and Royal Mile are also within 10 minutes. Princes Street Tram Stop is 10 minutes by foot and St Andrew Square Tram Stop is 13 minutes.

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Kick Ass Greyfriars - Adults Only - Hostel Reviews

Reviews

8.4

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 78 out of 194 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 77 out of 194 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 29 out of 194 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 7 out of 194 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 194 reviews

8.6/10

Cleanliness

9.0/10

Staff & service

8.2/10

Amenities

8.4/10

Property conditions & facilities

8.2/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great stay at Kickass

We had a fantastic stay at kickass.. The location was great, the vibe, the staff, nice outdoor and indoor bar, good food with good prices!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Wojciech

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Been there second time and deffo be back again! Good price, amazing location!
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great location for exploring. Noisy outside on a Saturday night in August but would still recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mackenzie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent customer service, friendly and welcoming staff. Cleanliness was on point, shower and toilet facilities were cleaned very regularly and were spotless.
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

8/10 Good

Issy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Hostel was absolutely great! Perfect distance from the city centre and their bar was very nice too. However, showers only ever seemed to be lukewarm or would fluctuate in temperature.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very comfortable, great location.

I am a senior male travelling Solo from Toronto, Canada - here on an annual 1 month holiday I take, since early retirement. This year I visited UK for my first time. Edinburgh was the last part of my 1 month exploring UK, and Kick Ass Greyfriars was an exceptional accommodation. Staff were great, lodging very comfortable, I suggest buying their breakfast. I will recommend this hostel.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Ciaran

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Fine for a night

Basic but pleasant enough hostel. Friendly staff. Overpriced but the location is good.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Bertrand

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Nice hostel, good social areas and comfy beds and thick duvets (needed in this weather) - only thing is the showers were not well designed (needed somewhere to put your stuff in the cabin otherwise you had to put on the ground)
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Brian

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This is a place where people are partying / drinking. Fun, but if you're looking for quiet, not the place
Stayed 1 night in May 2023

8/10 Good

Christian

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Enjoyed

Good standard, clean and comfortable. Well worth the money paid. Nice and relaxed with storage and washrooms available.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

M

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I really enjoyed my stay at kickass hostel. I dont usually stay in hostels but kickass definitely changed my views. The staff were all so helpful and kind, the rooms were clean. They had showers and bathrooms in almost every corner and it was always so clean. They have laundry room and lockers services which I found so convinent. I would highly recommend Kick Ass hostels and would definitely stay here again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2024

4/10 Poor

Rebecca

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Clean place. Broken heat while weather was 0-1 degrees at night. Cold room and uncomfortable while moving throughout the space. Tried working with staff ti resolve the issue, solution was extra blankets. No warning or switch of room to have heat. No offers to make stay better.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort
Poor air in the room, so the window had to stay opened towards the street, noisy. Uncomfortable beds. Needed to purchase a padlock (or bring one) for locking my luggage. No calm area for relaxing.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2022

6/10 Okay

Danielle P

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place was a bit lower quality than I expected from reviews, but the staff were nice upon check-in and the area is great. However, when I returned to my bed at 2:30am, somebody else was sleeping in it. He slept there because somebody slept in his bed, and the whole thing started a chain reaction and the night receptionist realized they were overbooked. I didn’t have anywhere to sleep and was offered a couch in the chill room, even though my tag was on the bed and my stuff was in the locker. I was told this has happened here before. So… beware.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2023

4/10 Poor

Nina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The room in the toilers were so tight you couldn't go to the bathroom in the back if someone washed their hands. The window in the 12 bed bedroom was open the whole nigt so it was cold inside and all the noise from outside went straight into the room. The curtains were all opened so it was annoying to. We arrived late so not much we could do about it either. The receptionist were nice and helpful so that was a
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Mandy

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
This was my first time in a hostel, so I went in not really knowing what to expect. The building is centrally located so it was very easy to walk around the city and get to places. The staff were friendly, and the building was quite clean. Because it’s right in the city, it does get very loud at night with people partying on the street. I was staying there for 6 days and wasn’t expecting to have so many different roommates but for the most part the people were respectful. One downside is the bed isn’t very comfortable and the pillow was very flat. The bathrooms are quite small and cramped, but they were functional, updated and clean. The bar downstairs was a bit expensive (but so was everywhere in Edinburgh). Overall, for my first time in a hostel I had a good time and felt very comfortable and safe. For those looking for a decently priced place to stay while in Edinburgh, this hostel is definitely one I would recommend.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing location

I stayed here because I can access all the popular attractions within 5-10 min from this hostel. The share bedroom was nice and clean. As I need to wake up very early in the morning and arrive very late in the evening, I wanna avoid affecting my roommate so I made a request for staying in a lower bunk bed. Unfortunately they did not reserve one for me. The female shower+toilet (floor 2) was so messy. Not much space you can hand up your personal items. Toilet paper on the floor overnight, it should be checked/cleaned in the midnight everyday. There are only 2 showers and one of it has COLD water only. It looks clean (no hair) because no one want to take a COLD shower. It seems like an existing issue for long time, please fix it. I did not know that I need to download an app for operating the washing and drying machines. And I need to top-up the balance before using it (washing 4GBP & drying 2GBP) It would be better to have an updated instruction. The connection point is named as "Cowgate" which is very confusing and I need to ask the overnight staff for help. No microwave in the common area.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kathleen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place! And staff was so helpful with storing luggage!
Stayed 1 night in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Bernadine

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
I enjoy the staff and the location, with the property being really clean and a convient location We enjoyed it very much!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Pablo

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Great option, great location, low price

Kick Ass Greyfriars is a great hostel. The location is what makes it one of the best options for staying at Edinburgh. I was only there for a night, so I didn't get to live the whole experience (the showers, the bar, the special events...). It is a great option if you don't mind the public bathrooms
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Fernando

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Disliked: Cleanliness
Bien
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

6/10 Okay

Verified traveler

Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort

Ok…

We had the private 4 bedroom and let’s just say it was not great. Beds uncomfy, sketchy part of town, nice view of castle when leaving the hostel but other than that not many positives. The night we got there service was decent but the guy there was pushing us to subscribe to his YouTube channel in front of him before going up to our rooms. We also only received one towel for the four of us because they ran out. The rooms were disgustingly hot but we soon realized a lot of places in Scotland are not air conditioned. Not good temperature to sleep in. It is pretty central but overall I would not recommend. They also only have pocket sized fans for the heat. Don’t go here unless you are desperate like we were. Maybe I’m the winter it’s better when the sweltering heat actually works for you.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

cristina

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Oportunidad de guardar las cosas en lockers, súper bien ubicado
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Good stay just wished the kitchen/fridge was here
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

6/10 Okay

Derrick

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Conviniently located in the most vibrant part of town... has some great pubs, walking distance to grass market and many other locations. The property itself is well maintained...but one important thing to remember is that it is a hostel. We happened to have a private 3 bed room. But it was still extremely noisy from the drunk yelling in the street...and stomping their way back to their bunks...way into the early morning...very limited toilet and shower spaces for the amount of inhabitants.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

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